VRWS Leadership Interview of the Day

1. What inspired you to enter the vacation rental industry?
   It really happened by chance—or accident, if you believe in accidents. I had just recently moved to the US in 2008. I got married in 2009, and it was the Great Recession. Finding a job was more or less impossible. But tourists were coming like never before to New York, as the dollar was relatively cheap.
   We started off by renting out a few studios near Times Square in Manhattan. After a while, we realized that this actually worked, and we were able to make a profit from it. So we continued doing it for some years. After I finished my MBA in 2012, we decided to go for it full-time. From there, we started to scale the business.
2. What sets your company apart in the vacation rental industry, and how do you ensure you stay ahead of the competition?
   I think the best answer to this question is that in Dharma, there’s a certain way of doing things—a distinct culture shaped by the personalities and backgrounds of the founders. In that sense, we are different from anyone else because we have a unique team that has been working together for a long time. I believe that’s true for most companies—they are deeply influenced by their founders.

As for competition, I’m not sure we’re ahead of all of it—because what does that really mean? There are so many companies out there, and there’s room for many. But with Dharma 3.0, we’ve evolved into a company that provides both technology and services, with our tech specifically designed for the mid-market. We offer an affordable solution that empowers smaller players to reach a high level of operational excellence without incurring high costs.

I believe our true edge lies in the vision behind our product and the way we’ve built our platform—grounded in many years of hands-on experience. It’s like we have a laboratory within the service company itself, allowing us to continuously learn and feed those insights directly into the technology. That’s a big strength for us.

3. If you attended the 2024 Vacation Rental World Summit in Porto, what was the most exciting or valuable takeaway for you? And looking ahead to the 2025 edition in Rome, what are you hoping to gain or experience this time?
   When we attended the show in Porto, we were reminded of how different the vacation rental industry feels in Europe compared to the US. I really like the way things are in Europe—the community feels more intimate here. I think Antonio and Cristian have done a great job of keeping the atmosphere warm and personal, which makes attendees feel comfortable opening up, sharing their experiences, and even exposing their vulnerabilities—perhaps more so than in other settings.
4. Beyond business, what’s one experience or destination that left a lasting impression on you, and why?
   I think running Dharma for over 15 years has been the most profound life experience for me—with all its ups and downs. So yes, it has gone far beyond business; it’s been a life experience, first and foremost. Because at the end of the day, I don’t think we can truly separate the two.
5. What’s one fun fact, hidden talent, or little-known secret about you that other attendees should know to spark a great conversation with you?
   I love the game of tennis. If I were born again and had any talent in tennis in my new body, I would do anything to become a professional tennis player. I just love the game. I’ve been lucky to visit the US Open, the French Open, and also Wimbledon once, in 1995—back when it was still affordable 🙂